Ellen Johnson-- President of American Atheist

[All-American]

Thumbing through the channels, I noticed a speech given by Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, at a convention given on April 6 (ironically enough). In an effort to better understand a group with whom we often do not get along, I watched. I found the bulk of her speech to be angry and vindictive, celebrating the attack of religion in the media (citing such sterling examples as the movie "Saved" and "South Park") and rejoicing in its decline, and eulogized the war against theism being fought in classrooms, government buildings, and other public institutions.

I am hesitant to speak against an ideology that I don't fully understand. I don't complain when these and similar organizations fight against public funds being used to support religious ideas and practices. I'm actually somewhat in favor of the ACLU, for example, even though as a white Mormon in Utah, I've never heard of a case they've prosecuted wherein we were on the same side. I am all for the separation of church and state and allowing others to believe as they will.

But this speech, as well as the one that followed it, was well beyond arguing for the separation of church and state. I don't know how any organization survives whose essential tenet is to fight the ideas of others. I can support the right of any, atheists or otherwise, to believe or disbelieve as they feel is right, but not the attack of others' beliefs.

I would have liked to have come away from that speech with a little more respect than I did.